Machine for crushing cans, bottles and the like



April 1967 H. H. SIMSHAUSER MACHINE FOR CRUSHING CANS, BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1964 INVENT OR HERBERTH-SIMSHAUSER gfmi umv/L fi l 0&4 4 [M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,315,594 MACHINE FOR CRUSHING CANS, BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Herbert H. Simshauser, Rte. 2, Ravenna, Ohio 44266 Filed Oct. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 403,732 6 Claims. (Cl. 100-52) This invention relates broadly to material handling machines and apparatus and, more particularly, to machines for crushing articles such as empty cans, bottles and the like.

It has been the principal object of this invention to provide such a crushing machine which is semi-automatic in operation, both with respect to the crushing cycle and the retraction cycle, whereby quicker and more efficient operation is obtained. Another object of the invention has been to provide a machine of the described type in which the articles to be crushed may be supplied to the crushing chamber by hand, and in which means are provided which insure that the crushing means cannot operate while in a condition to receive the operators hand, thereby insuring complete safety to the operator.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention are described in the following specification and described in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a part elevational and part sectional view of the crushing machine provided by the invention, the crushing means being shown in retracted, or non-crushing, position;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

The crushing machine provided by the invention is principally disclosed in FIG. 1 of the drawings and is provided with a supporting base comprising a flat plate 1 at one end of the base, from which there extend two parallel angle irons 2, 3. On this base there are mounted, proceeding from the right hand end in FIG. 1, a motor 4 having its shaft extending at right angles to the length of the base, a fixed upstanding wall 6 extending parallel to the motor axis, and at or adjacent the left hand end of the base there is a second fixed upstanding wall 8. Two rods 10, 12 extend between the upstanding fixed walls 6, 8 and form a support extending longitudinally of the base on which parts of the machine are mounted for sliding movement. Just inboard of the end wall 8 is the compartment 14 within which the can or bottle to be crushed is placed and this compartment is defined by the end wall 8, a lower wall 18 having an opening 20 therein which is not sufficiently large to pass an uncrushed can or bottle but is of such size that a crushed can or bottle will fall therethrough to a container positioned below the machine. The wall 18 is therefore merely a shelf defining the opening 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The inboard end of the crushing compartment is formed by a movable flat wall 22 which is parallel to and spaced inwardly from the end wall 8 and which is carried on the outer end of a cylinder 24 which extends lengthwise of the base and is mounted on the rods 10, 12 by two sets of ears 26, 28 and 30, 32 for sliding movement along the rods. The cars 26, 28 extend outwardly in opposite directions from the side edges of the ram 22, as most clearly shown in FIG. 1, and the cars 30, 32 are mounted closely to the open end of the cylinder 24 and extend outwardly from the sides thereof. The

wall 22 therefore forms a ram which may be moved toward and away from the fixed end wall 8 and when sufiiciently moved toward that wall, crushes anything between them. The crushing compartment 20 is provided with a cover 40 which is hinged by pins 42 to the upper edge of end wall 8 and is of such length and width that when closed it covers the entire crushing compartment and extends inboard of the machine beyond the retracted position of the wall 22, all as shown in FIG. 1. 1

Means are provided by the invention for moving the ram 22 and its connected cylinder 24 toward and away from the fixed end wall 8, and such means comprise a hollow, flexible, bellows-type air bag 50 having its closed end adjacent and bearing on the inboard side of the ram 22 and having its annular open end connected to a fixed wall 60 which is positioned within the cylinder 24 and closes it. The cylinder 24 and ram 22 are normally maintained in retracted, non-crushing position by strong extension springs 62 which surround the rods 10, 12 and are connected at their ends to the fixed end wall 6 and to the cars 30, 32 which are carried by the cylinder and are slidably mounted on the rods 10, 12. The springs normally retract the ram 22 and cylinder 24 to non-crushing position in which the bag 50 is collapsed, and these parts are moved against the force of the springs to crushing position of wall 22 by expansion of the bag 50 when fluid under pressure is forced into it.

Means are provided by the invention for forcing fluid under pressure into the bag 50, and such means comprise, first, a cylinder 70 which has its open end connected to the outer end wall 6 and which extends therefrom longitudinally of the base within the cylinder 24 and has its other end screw threaded within an opening in fixed wall 60. A piston 72 is mounted for reciprocatory movement within cylinder 70 and is operated through piston rod 74 by a cam 76 which is mounted on the shaft of motor 4 by well-known and conventional mechanism through which the piston rod is operated in a manner to prevent sidewise oscillation of the piston rod, thus insuring straightline movement of piston 72 in cylinder 70. The annular space between the piston and the cylinder is filled by a conventional seal 78 which insures fluid-tight operation on the compression stroke of the piston. An axial bore 80 extends from the free end of the piston, and within the piston rod is open to atmosphere through port 82. The outer end of the bore is covered by a spring pressed flap valve 84 which closes on the compression stroke of the piston and opens on the return stroke to permit fluid to pass from atmosphere through port 82 and bore 80 to the cylinder 70 in front of the working face of the piston. The working space in front of the piston 72 and within the cylinder 70 is communicated to the interior of the bag 50 by a passage through the reduced end part of cylinder 70 which is threaded through the fixed wall 60. The inner end 92 of this passage is controlled by a ball check valve comprising ball 94 which is constantly urged into closing engagement with passage 92 by spring 96, whereby fluid under pressure forced by piston 72 through passage 92 will unseat the ball and pass into bag 50, but is prevented by the ball check valve from passing from the bag.

Means are provided by the invention for controlling the operation of the crushing ram 22 by starting the pump, thereby initiating crushing movement of the ram, and at the completion of such movement releasing the fluid pressure to cause retracting movement of the ram and, at the same time, stopping operation of the motor and pump. Such means comprise, first, a combined valve and electrical switch device having a cylindrical valve body 102 which is threaded at its inner end into fixed wall 60 and extends outwardly therefrom toward motor 4 and is supported by fixed end wall 6. The valve body has an axial bore 104 extending from end to end within which a cylindrical valve member 106 is slidably mounted and the valve body is also provided midway of its length with an atmospheric port 105. The inner end of the valve member, adjacent fixed wall 60, has a short axial bore 107 which communicates at its inner end within the valve body with a radial port 108, the outer end of w -ch opens into a groove 110 in the outer wall of the valve body. Spaced from this groove in the direction of fixed wall 6 the valve stem has two external grooves 112, 114 which V itions.

cooperate with balls 116 to provide two detents for holding the valve stem in either of two predetermined posi- The balls are positioned in the inner ends of the bores in two radial arms 118 which extend radial-1y outwardly from the valve body just inwardly of the fixed wall 6. Springs 120 are positioned within the bores and constantly urge the balls toward the valve stem, and the springs are backed by screws 122 by which their tension may be adjusted, The outer end part of the valve stem passes through an opening 124 in end wall 6 and the peripheral wall of this opening has mounted thereon at least one copper switch contact member 126 which extend radially and axially within the opening and engage the outer wall of the valve stem, being so shaped that the valve stem can move freely with respect to them. These con tacts are connected by leads 127 in series with the winding of motor 4 and with power. The valve stem is provided with an external annular electrically conductive contact ring 128 which is so positioned with respect to the contacts that it engages them when the valve stem is in its innermost position;

Means are provided by the invention for operating the combined valve and electrical switch 100 to control the operation of'the machine. Suchmeans comprise, first, an elongated rod 140 which extends longitudinally of the machine parallel to the adjacent and outside the supporting and guiding 'bar 12 and is connected at its one end to the outer end of valve stem 106 by member 142. At its other end which is adjacent end wall 8, as most clearly shown in FIG. 3, the rod is provided with a knob 144 and a lug 146. Cooperating with this lug is a pawl 148 which is hinged at 150 to the underside of the cover.

40 for the can compartment 14. This pawl extends downwardly and toward wall 8 and it and lug 146 are so positioned with respect to each other that when the cover is closed the outer, or lower end of the pawl engages and pushes the lug, moving it and rod 140 in the direction of wall 8. This motion is transmitted through connecting member 142 to the valve stem 106.

Operation If it is desired to crush an article such as a can, bottle or the like the cover 40 is raised and the can is placed in the crushing compartment 14 where it is supported by the partial wall or shelf 18. The cover 40 is now closed causing pawl 148 to engage lug 146 and move rod 140 to the left, as viewed in the drawings, thus moving valve stem 106 to its innermost position, which is shown in FIG. 1. In this condition of the valve the port 108 and groove 110 of the valve stem are blanked, i.e., they do not communicate with exhaust port 105, contact ring 128 is in engagement with contacts 126, and balls 116 engage in outer groove 114 releasably holding the stem in position. In this condition of the parts the circuit of the motor 4 is completed and the motor is operated to cause reciprocation of the piston 72 in cylinder 70. This causes air to be pumped into bag which expands, moving the ram wall 22 against the force of springs 62 toward fixed end wall 8 to crush the can in the crushing compartment. The pressure of springs 120 on balls 116 has previously been so adjusted that when the wall 22 reaches a predetermined position, in which the article in compartment 14 is crushed between walls 8 and 22, the air pressure in bag 50 reaches a predetermined p.s.i. and the reaction of pressure fluid on the end of valve stem 106 through valve port 104 is sufficient to move the valve stem to the right, as viewed in the drawings, until it reaches a position in which the halls engage in the inboard groove 112. At this point the port 108 and groove 110 of the valve stem communicate with exhaust port 105 and the'pressure within bag 50 is exhausted to atmosphere and springs 62 pull cylinder 24 and ram wall 22 to retracted poition, collapsing bag 50. The movement of, the valve stem to pressure exhaust position moves rod 140 in the same direction, causing lug 146 to move pawl 148 and cover 40 to cover open pos tion, In this final position the parts 4 are ready for the next crushing cycle, as described, and the crushing can falls through the bottom aperture of the crushing compartment. 7

It will be seen that the machine provided by the invention is fully automatic, the crushing and retracting cycles being initiated by closing of the cover for the crushing compartment and continuing without further action by the operator. Further, as the operation is started by closing of the cover it is apparent that the operators hand cannot be injured by being within the crushing compartment during the crushing cycle.

While I have described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the ant to which it relates that other embodiments, as

well as modifications of that disclosed, may be made and practised without departing in any way from the spirit or scope of the invention, for the limits of which reference must be made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for crushing an'articlc such as a can,

open the cover for the article receiving compartment 2. A machine for crushing an article such as a can, bottle or the like,

to provide an article receiving compartment between them, fluid pressure operated means for moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall to crush an article in said compartment, a movable cover for said compartment,

means operable by closure of said cover to cause movement of the movable wall toward the fixed wall, means operable upon a pre-determined fluid pressure in moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall to move the movable wall away from the fixed wall, and means operable upon such retracting movement of the movable wallto open the cover for the article receiving compartment.

3. A machine for crushing an article suchas a can, bottle or the like, comprising a wall parallel to and normally spaced from the fixed wall to provide an article receiving compartment between them, means for moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall.

to crush an article in said compartment and comprising an expansible chamber abutting the side of the movable wall away from the fixed wall, a reciprocable piston for forcing fluid under pressure into said chamber, a motor for operating the piston, a normally open electric circuit for said motor, means for closing the circuit to operate the motor to force fluid under pressure into the chamber and thereby move the movable wall toward the fixed wall, and means responsive to a predetermined pressure of fluid in the chamber to open the circuit and de-energize the motor.

4. A machine for crushing an article such as a can,

bottle or the like, comprising a fixed wall, a movable 7 the movable wall away from the fixed wall, means for forcing fluid under pressure into said chamber, a valve having a movable part subject to the pressure of fluid in said chamber and being movable at a pre-determined pressure of such fluid to a position to release the pressure fluid 1n the chamber, andmeans for moving the movable means operable at a pre-de- V fixed wall, and meanso'perable 7 upon such retracting movement of the movable wall to comprising a fixed wall, a movable wall parallel to and normally spaced from the fixed wall fixed wall, a movable 7 wall away from the fixed wall upon such release of the pressure fluid in said chamber.

5. A machine for crushing an article such as a can, bottle or the like, comprising a fixed wall, a movable Wall parallel to and normally spaced from the fixed wall to provide an article receiving compartment between them, means for moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall to crush an article in said compartment and comprising an expansible chamber abutting the side of the movable wall away from the fixed wall, a reciprocable piston for forcing fluid under pressure into said chamber, a motor for operating said piston, a normally open electric circuit for said motor, a combined valve and switch device associated with said expansible chamber and said motor, said valve having a movable member subject to the pressure of fluid in said chamber and having a first blanked position and a second position to which it is moved by a pre-determined fluid pressure and in which it causes release of such pressure fluid to atmosphere, said switch device having a fixed contact and a movable contact carried by the movable valve member, means for moving the movable valve member to its first position in which the valve is blanked and the switch contacts closed thereby to operate the motor to force fluid into the chamber, the switch contacts being so positioned respect to each other that the contact carried by the movable valve member is moved out of engagement with the fixed contact upon movement of the valve to its second position.

6. A machine for crushing an article such as a can, bottle or the like, comprising a fixed Wall, a movable wall parallel to and normally spaced therefrom to provide an article receiving compartment between them, a cover for said compartment movable to open and closed positions, an expansible chamber abutting the movable wall on with the side thereof away from the fixed wall, a piston and cylinder connected to force fluid under pressure into the chamber when the piston is operated, an electric motor for operating the piston, a valve device having a fixed part having ports communicating with the chamber and with atmosphere respectively and a movable part subject to the pressure of fluid in the chamber for controlling the ports, a switch in the circuit of said motor having a fixed contact and a movable contact carried by the movable valve part, said movable valve part being movable to a first position in which the valve is blanked and the switch contacts are closed and to a second position in which the valve communicates the chamber to atmosphere and the switch contacts are open, means operable by closing of the cover to move the movable valve part to its first position, means for releasably holding the movable valve part in its first position and arranged to be overcome by a pre-determined pressure of fluid in the chamber to release the movable valve member to permit it to be moved to its second position by such fluid under pressure, and means for collapsing the chamber upon movement of the movable valve part to its second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,139 1/ 1908 Tartarinoff 100-269 2,763,202 9/1956 Gramelspacher 100-52 2,800,159 7/1957 Walsh et al. 100266 X 2,813,569 11/1957 Nelson 100-53 2,916,985 12/1959 Beach 100-256 X 3,024,720 3/1962 Welsh 100-53 3,025,837 3/1962 Beach. 3,104,607 9/ 1963 Galas 100-53 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR CRUSHING AN ARTICLE SUCH AS A CAN, BOTTLE OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A FIXED WALL, A MOVABLE WALL PARALLEL TO AND NORMALLY SPACED FROM THE FIXED WALL TO PROVIDE AN ARTICLE RECEIVING COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THEM, MEANS FOR MOVING THE MOVABLE WALL TOWARD THE FIXED WALL TO CRUSH AN ARTICLE IN SAID COMPARTMENT, A MOVABLE COVER FOR SAID COMPARTMENT, MEANS OPERABLE BY CLOSURE OF SAID COVER TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF THE MOVABLE WALL TOWARD THE FIXED WALL, MEANS OPERABLE AT A PRE-DETERMINED POSITION OF THE MOVABLE WALL IN ITS MOVEMENT TOWARD THE FIXED WALL FOR MOVING THE MOVABLE WALL IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE FIXED WALL, AND MEANS OPERABLE UPON SUCH RETRACTING MOVEMENT OF THE MOVABLE WALL TO OPEN THE COVER FOR THE ARTICLE RECEIVING COMPARTMENT. 